I usually only eat  or prepare two meals a day on the weekends. However I make things I can use during the week like soups or make a batch of egg salad for instance. I also cook meals that take time to cook. Not necessarily time in prep work but time to let the flavors marry. I find this breakfast hash is a hearty meal that gets me thru until dinner. I use potatoes that I have cooked earlier in the week or the small red potatoes sliced thin. I mix it up and add items to the hash that are left over in the refrigerator. This recipe is so adaptable. Add onions, green pepper, bacon, ham, sausage, cheese, etc…

Breakfast Hash
prep time 15 min
cooking time 15-20 min 

Ingredients
 2 medium potatoes previously baked or 4 small new red potatoes
1 small onion diced
seasoned salt/pepper
1/2 cup diced ham
2 eggs

dice or grate the potatoes and cook in oil (I use a combination of olive oil and butter)  Add diced onion. (Cook the potatoes until they begin to crisp and then flip over. Cook potatoes until desired crispness.

Add ham and cook until heated thru.Cook two eggs to desired doneness.( I like to cook them in a little butter and then steam them to cook the yolk).
Serve the hash with the eggs on top.

This week we get into talking about how I can make this menu work for $25 a week. I think many of you have questioned the shopping list. Meat if you eat it at all is the most expensive item on the grocery list. How we save money buying meat is I shop at stores that discount their meat when it gets close to the sell by date. Many times that drives the weekly menu but I have learned over the years what cuts of meat I like and how I can use them. I buy them  when there is a really good deal. Like ground turkey. I have purchased packages of high quality turkey for 99 cents a package just because of the sell date. I take as many as I can and put them in the freezer. Just make sure you buy wisely so that you will use them up in a 6 month period or the taste will offset the savings. Pot Roast was on the menu a few weeks ago but I got a great deal of buy one and get one free. I did not post the recipe until this week.

SUNDAY
Brunch Breakfast hash, toast w/ jam, orange juice
Dinner All Day Pot Roast, frozen vegetable, fresh fruit

MONDAY
Breakfast Cereal, orange juice
Lunch egg salad sandwiches, carrot sticks
Dinner  Red beans and rice, salad greens, fresh fruit

TUESDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch burrito, fresh fruit
Dinner Pot Roast Hash, frozen vegetable, fruit

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch pb&j sandwich, carrots
Dinner easy spaghetti, salad greens, fresh fruit

THURSDAY
Breakfast egg sandwich, orange juice
Lunch  easy spaghetti, carrots
Dinner Roasted Chicken, salad greens, fresh fruit

FRIDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch sliced chicken breast sandwich, carrots, fresh fruit
Dinner red beans and rice burritos, fresh fruit (make a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie)

SATURDAY
Brunch breakfast hash, toast w/ jam, orange juice
Dinner pork roast with potatoes and carrots, salad greens, fresh fruit

SHOPPING LIST

ground turkey or hamburger, pork sirloin tip roast , roasted chicken, carrot sticks, eggs, cereal, frozen vegetable, can of diced tomatoes w/basil, canned tomatoes w/ chili seasoning , boxed dried red beans and rice mix, onion, shredded cheese, whole wheat spaghetti, head of lettuce, bread,, flour tortillas, orange juice, fresh fruit

Low and slow is what makes these ribs a delicious meal. Great to make in the oven on a day when you have the time or in a slow cooker. I cook them at 225 degrees in the oven for a few hours and then turn up the heat to 325 degrees and add the sauce to coat for the last hour. I like that spare ribs can be found on sale or purchased in smaller packages to stay within a budget. I like the boneless ribs because they are so lean.

Spare Ribs-Pork
prep time 15 min
cooking time 4 hours 

Ingredients
Spare ribs
seasoned salt
soy sauce

place the ribs in a shallow baking dish salt them and sprinkle on soy sauce enough to add flavor. Place in a 225 degree oven for 3 hours. After three hours add sauce on top of ribs and place back into a 325 degree oven for 1 hour. The sauce will caramelize and coat the ribs. Serve and enjoy.

Sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 TBS spicy mustard
1 TBS honey
1 TBS red wine vinegar
stir together and pour over ribs. You may add more soy sauce or garlic salt to the sauce for additional flavor.

How do you make a meatloaf look good for photos? As you can see its not a task that can be accomplished. That is not why we make meatloaf. We do it for the flavor and I love cold meatloaf sandwiches. I make meatloaf a little different every time I prepare it so I am just giving you the basics here which is tasty enough. Especially if you use a combination of ground pork and beef. Be creative. Think of it as a great pate and what spices are put into your favorite one. Use them in your meatloaf and you will enjoy it. I like to use fresh herbs as well. Even chopping up fresh parsley and adding it can add to its subtle flavor.

Meatloaf
prep time 15 min
cooking time 1 hour 

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey, beef or pork or combination of pork and beef
1 medium onion diced
1 crust from loaf of bread broken up into crumb size pieces
salt/pepper to taste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbs spicy mustard
1 egg for binding
note-additional seasoning can and should be added depending on your mood and what is in the pantry. I like to add worchestire sauce, steak sauce, garlic, fresh herbs etc….

In a bowl combine meat and all other ingredients. with your hands blend together and form into a loaf. place on baking sheet and put into a 325 degree oven for one hour. This is enough time to cook a baked potato as well.

This is so good and fast to make. Prep time is a quick trip to the pantry. I buy the ground turkey for this dish on sale and freeze it. In fact except for the celery and onion I buy every item used in this dish on sale and stock it up in the pantry.  Makes a great left over for lunches etc.

4 can Chili
prep time 15 min
cooking time 30-45 min or all day in the slow cooker

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion diced
5 stalks celery sliced thin on the diagonal
salt to taste
2 14.5 oz cans tomatoes with chili ready seasoning
1 16 oz can chili beans with chili seasoning (you can choose from mild to hot)
1 15 oz can black beans (I use the beans with cumin or jalapenos in them)

Brown the turkey in a tablespoon of oil (I use olive oil) and add diced onion. Cook until onion is translucent. Add celery and cook until softened. Add tomatoes and beans. Stir and bring to a boil.
Turn down heat to a simmer and cook for 30-45 min. or transfer to a slow cooker and cook all day. You can also simmer this on the stove for hours for a more enhanced flavor if you desire. Serve with your favorite toppings. Easy Peezy.

This recipe is easy to make and from start to finish you are eating fresh home made pizza in 30 minutes. The same time it takes to order one. First heat the oven to 425 degrees and lets get started. I usually make this with left over Italian sausage or chicken. Sometimes I like just an onion pizza. Also try your favorite hard sausage instead of pepperoni.

Pizza
prep time 15 min
cooking time 15 min

Ingredients for Crust
3 cups flour
1 packet of yeast (they have a pizza crust yeast I recommend )
1 1/4 cups warm water to dissolve yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon oil ( I use olive oil )

Dissolve yeast with warm water in a bowl.  mix in 1 cup flour, salt, olive oil. I use an old wooden spoon to stir this mixture until it comes together. Add the rest of the flour one cup at a time until blended and comes together as a ball. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until it is a nice smooth ball. You can cut this in half for two smaller pizzas or onto one jelly roll pan.

Pizza Topping
1 28 oz can pureed tomatoes w/ basil
Italian seasoning to taste
red pepper flakes (optional)
sea salt
grated mozzarella cheese

Form pizza dough onto pans that have been lightly oiled. Brush dough with oil and sprinkle on sea salt and italian seasoning. Spoon on pureed tomatoes, add toppings of choice. For italian sausage I like to make round balls of sausage an place in the middle of each piece. Sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes or until crust is nice and golden brown and cheese has melted and is bubbling.

This dish is so easy and crowd friendly. It stores well in the refrigerator and makes a couple of great leftover meals. Easy to reheat in the microwave.

One Pot Pasta
prep time 10 min
cooking time 45 min
Ingredients
1lb italian sausage
2-3 cloves of fresh garlic grated
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes
Italian seasoning to taste
red pepper flakes (optional)
1 lb whole wheat penne pasta
sea salt/pepper
fresh parmesan cheese
Brown sausage in pot, add onion and grated garlic. Add tomatoes, seasoning to pot. (you can make it spicy with red pepper flakes)

Break up tomatoes with back of cooking spoon. Add 3/4 can of water and package of pasta to pot. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a medium simmer. Check pot after 20-25 min. Sauce should be rich and thick and pasta al dente. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve and sprinkle on cheese. eat right away!!

SUNDAY
Brunch cheese omelet toast w/ jam, american fries, orange juice
Dinner one pot pasta. salad greens w/ vinaigrette, fresh fruit

MONDAY
Breakfast Cereal, orange juice
Lunch egg salad sandwiches, carrot sticks
Dinner hot dog, corn on the cob, chips

TUESDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch one pot pasta leftover, fresh fruit
Dinner chicken salad, fruit

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch pb&j sandwich, carrots
Dinner chicken leg and thigh w/ baked potato,frozen vegetable, fresh fruit

THURSDAY
Breakfast egg sandwich, orange juice
Lunch  chicken salad sandwich, carrots
Dinner one pot pasta, fresh fruit

FRIDAY
Breakfast cereal, orange juice
Lunch egg salad sandwich
Dinner chicken pizza, fresh fruit (make a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie)

SATURDAY
Brunch breakfast hash, toast w/ jam, orange juice
Dinner pot roast with potatoes onions carrots, salad greens, fresh fruit

SHOPPING LIST

roast chicken,pot roast (chuck), italian sausage, corn on the cob, eggs, cereal, frozen vegetable,  canned tomatoes 28 oz, fresh garlic, onion, pasta, 1 lb red potatoes, mozzarella shredded (always buy the one on sale), head of lettuce, bread,orange juice,fresh fruit

this dish is fast and easy. You start with using the left over no cook pasta, add a few ingredients and it offers a whole new flavor.

Pasta Chicken Salad

prep time 5-10 min
cook time 5-10 min
Ingredients
left over no cook pasta (see recipe)
1 cup broccoli (Frozen works well) cook to instructions.
1 breast of the roasted chicken

vinaigrette dressing (blend 2 TBS olive oil 1TBS red wine vinegar with dab of mustard salt pepper)

take left over no cook pasta and shred chicken breast meat into bowl. add broccoli and dressing. Toss and serve. Refrigerate leftovers and is best served chilled.